Chapter 107: Wanting to Stay by His Side

“Hong Xiu!” Old Zhao’s face flushed with anger. Right under his nose, Hong Xiu actually dared to take advantage of Li Mohan! It was as if he was invisible to her!

He jumped up from his chair without a word and raised his hand, ready to strike Chu Bing.

Chu Bing quickly dodged behind Li Mohan, peeking out with a sly grin. “Uncle Zhao, don’t get worked up! I just wiped something off the Young Master’s face for his own image, that’s all!”

“Nonsense!” Old Zhao was fuming, steam practically coming out of his nostrils.

Feeling the warm breath behind him, Li Mohan’s body stiffened slightly. With a calm expression, he said, “Uncle Zhao, please leave first.”

“Yes, Young Master!”

Li Mohan gave a single look, and Old Zhao immediately shut his mouth, shooting a fierce glare at Chu Bing before retreating.

Chu Bing waved cheerfully. She loved seeing Old Zhao so furious yet powerless to do anything!

Once Old Zhao left, only Li Mohan and Chu Bing remained in the room.

Li Mohan glanced at Chu Bing and shook his head slightly, a hint of indulgence in his eyes. “Why do you always deliberately provoke Old Zhao?”

Chu Bing’s smile was radiant. “I think Old Zhao quite enjoys being teased by me.”

Old Zhao was old and had no family around, so naturally, he felt lonely. Chu Bing’s presence filled some of that emptiness.

Li Mohan fell silent upon hearing that. He treated Old Zhao like family and naturally wished for his happiness.

Chu Bing looked at the nearly finished meal on the table, her eyes flickering as she suddenly lowered her voice. “Young Master, this time you’re going out, is it to find the Third Young Master?”

Li Mohan’s expression changed for a moment, surprised to hear such words from Chu Bing.

But then he recalled that Chu Bing had disguised herself to follow him, all to inquire about Li Haoran’s whereabouts.

He lowered his gaze, his tone cool as he asked, “How did you find out?”

How had Chu Bing learned of his movements?

This was hard to explain. Chu Bing dared not mention the system, and even if she did, no one would believe her.

Without looking at Li Mohan, she feigned calm and explained, “You are the Young Master. You wouldn’t leave the city for trivial matters, especially without many attendants. It must be somewhere you don’t want others to know about, so I guessed you were going to see the Third Young Master.”

She looked up at Li Mohan earnestly. “Young Master, I truly harbor no hostility towards the Third Young Master. I’m only following my master’s orders to check if he’s safe and how his martial arts have progressed...”

“I know. You won’t harm him,” Li Mohan interrupted, a jealousy hidden deep in his eyes, one even he hadn’t noticed before.

When he saw Chu Bing at the temple, he had already sent people to investigate her. Naturally, he also knew that Li Haoran had helped Chu Bing open a tavern and that Chu Bing was teaching him martial arts.

But why would Chu Bing be so kind to Li Haoran for no apparent reason, sharing all her skills with him?

Chu Bing paused, then tentatively asked, “Then, Young Master, would you be willing to take me to find the Third Young Master?”

Li Mohan fixed his gaze on her until she blinked awkwardly before looking away. “I can take you, but this time we’re heading beyond the frontier to meet my father. My father dislikes you. Whether you can meet my Third Brother depends on yourself.”

Chu Bing’s mind raced. Clearly, Chancellor Li valued Li Haoran greatly, hence the careful protection.

She smiled gratefully. “Of course, I’m already deeply thankful that you’re willing to take me!”

Li Mohan frowned slightly at the flattering expression on her face. What was it about Li Haoran that made Chu Bing care so much? Could it really be just to teach him martial arts?

That reason sounded... utterly absurd.

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Chu Bing instantly felt refreshed and quickly cleared the table.

“Young Master, rest early. We have a long journey tomorrow!” Chu Bing said, carrying a tray as she bounced down the stairs, unaware of the warm glint in Li Mohan’s eyes behind her.

Since they were heading beyond the frontier and the journey would be long, Old Zhao instructed them to rest at this inn and resupply before setting off again.

To prevent Chu Bing from making excuses to share a room with Li Mohan at night, Old Zhao told the waiter to prepare a room right next to his own, keeping an eye on her in case she sneaked into Li Mohan’s room.

Chu Bing spent the entire day in her room training. She had a premonition that a fierce battle awaited her beyond the frontier.

As night fell, the inn suddenly grew quiet.

Chu Bing stepped out, rubbing her hollow stomach, intending to make something in the small kitchen. Passing Old Zhao’s room, she found it empty.

Where could Old Zhao be so late at night?

Squinting, she glanced across the hall at Li Mohan’s room and quietly approached. Sure enough, she heard Old Zhao’s voice.

What were the master and servant discussing?

Chu Bing’s eyes flickered as she activated her teleportation skill, leaping onto the rooftop. Carefully, she lifted a tile to peek inside.

Li Mohan sat in a chair while Old Zhao knelt on the floor, his expression earnest and his words impassioned.

“Young Master, I know you’re grateful that Hong Xiu saved you, but she really can’t come with us beyond the frontier! If the Chancellor finds out how much influence she has over you, he will have her killed!”

Li Mohan’s expression remained unmoved as he quietly toyed with his teacup, as if not hearing a word.

Old Zhao took a deep breath and continued, “When the Second Young Master took Hong Xiu away, you were frantic, ignoring your injuries to search for her. The Chancellor already suspected something and privately warned you—if you delay things for a woman again, you will be ruined!”

“Hong Xiu is loyal and righteous, a good girl, but compared to our great affairs, she’s insignificant!”

Old Zhao’s fragmented voice drifted down to Chu Bing, who stared at Li Mohan in confusion. She hadn’t expected that after she was taken by Li Yuxi, Li Mohan would still be searching for her despite his wounds.

She recalled the pain and despair in Li Mohan’s eyes then, biting her lip.

Li Mohan... was indeed so good that she wanted to abandon her mission and stay by his side.

“Beep beep beep! Negative mission attitude detected! System warning: if such thoughts persist, the host will be executed on the spot immediately!”

The cold mechanical voice echoed relentlessly in Chu Bing’s mind, constantly reminding her that her life was still in someone else’s hands.

Suddenly alert, Chu Bing’s gaze grew firm.

Survival was paramount. One who could not even control their own life had no right to indulge in feelings.